Football dynasties meet in BCS final

Notre Dame, Alabama in national championship

Associated Press

Published 9:41 pm, Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Photo: Anonymous

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FILE - In this Jan. 1, 1971, file photo, Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian is carried off the field by his victorious players after the Irish victory over Texas 24-11 in the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game in Dallas. At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue collar fans a chance to tweak the elite. About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite - two of college football's signature programs, set to play a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership. (AP Photo/File) less

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 1971, file photo, Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian is carried off the field by his victorious players after the Irish victory over Texas 24-11 in the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game ... more

Photo: Anonymous

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FILE- In tis Jan. 2, 1967 file photo, Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant gets a ride on the shoulders of his team after Alabama beat Nebraska 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans. At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue collar fans a chance to tweak the elite. About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite - two of college football's signature programs, set to play a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership. (AP Photo/File) less

FILE- In tis Jan. 2, 1967 file photo, Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant gets a ride on the shoulders of his team after Alabama beat Nebraska 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans. At a ... more

Photo: Anonymous

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In this image released by the Bryant Museum, Alabama football coachWallace Wade at the stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue collar fans a chance to tweak the elite. About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite - two of college football's signature programs, set to play a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership. (AP Photo/Bryant Museum via The Tuscaloosa News) less

In this image released by the Bryant Museum, Alabama football coachWallace Wade at the stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, ... more

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FILE - This is a 1925 photo of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne at an unknown location.At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue collar fans a chance to tweak the elite. About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite - two of college football's signature programs, set to play a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership. (AP Photo/File) less

FILE - This is a 1925 photo of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne at an unknown location.At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama ... more

Photo: Anonymous

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FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2011, file photo, the hallway between the locker room and the field at Notre Dame stadium shows the sign "Play like a Champion Today" in South Bend, Ind. At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue collar fans a chance to tweak the elite. About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite - two of college football's signature programs, set to play a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File) less

FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2011, file photo, the hallway between the locker room and the field at Notre Dame stadium shows the sign "Play like a Champion Today" in South Bend, Ind. At a time when college football ... more

Photo: Joe Raymond

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Notre Dame wide receiver Robby Toma talks to reporters after arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Notre Dame takes on Alabama in the BCS national championship NCAA college football game next Monday in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) less

Notre Dame wide receiver Robby Toma talks to reporters after arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Notre Dame takes on Alabama in the BCS national championship NCAA college football game ... more

Photo: Alan Diaz

Football dynasties meet in BCS final

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MIAMI — At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue-collar fans a chance to tweak the elite.

About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite — two of college football's signature programs, set to play for a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership.

No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 Notre Dame. Even casual sports fans understand this is a college football classic.

He's right. And to understand just how Notre Dame and Alabama became touchstones for their uniquely American sport, you have to look back to the 1920s, when beating an Ivy League team was a huge deal and there was nothing bigger than playing in the Rose Bowl.

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At a glance

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Who: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Alabama

When: 8 p.m. Monday

Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

TV: ESPN

In 1918, Knute Rockne took over as coach of Notre Dame. A Norwegian-born former end for Notre Dame who helped his school to a head-turning upset of Army as a player, Rockne was media savvy and intent on turning the program into a national power.

In 1923, Notre Dame won two landmark victories that help cement its place as America's team.

First, it beat Army 13-0 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The next week, the Fighting Irish won at Princeton 25-2.

Notre Dame was the college football team for the people who didn't go to college. Few programs have won like the Fighting Irish. Alabama is one of them.

The Tide made a similar breakthrough in the 1920s under coach Wallace Wade. The Tide's big victory against the Ivy League came in 1922 against Penn.

"Back in those days, Alabama beating Penn was as surprising as if Penn were to beat Alabama today," said Kirk McNair, who worked as sports information director for Alabama during the 1970s and now runs Bama Magazine.

Both Alabama and Notre Dame went through hard times in the 1990s and early 2000s, trying to find the right coach.

Nick Saban arrived in Alabama in 2007, and it's as if the Bear was back. The Tide have won two of the last three national championship.

"I know there's a lot of national interest here because of two great programs that have tremendous tradition," Saban said as he stepped off Alabama's plane in Miami.

Brian Kelly took over in South Bend three years ago, and he has a chance to win a national title in his third season — against Alabama, no less.

The Fighting Irish against the Crimson Tide, a marquee matchup in any era.